Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Hoover leads 18 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
New Bedford
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $47,161 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than New Bedford
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,352)
Homes cost $75k less ($291,300 vs $366,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $47,161/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hoover
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$47,161
$101,765 vs $54,604/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
78% lower
78.0 vs 353.2 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$75k less
$291,300 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 100,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 18 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 18 and New Bedford wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hoover to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $291,300 median home), income ($101,765 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and New Bedford, MA are about 1,039 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.